Vista drug house to be sold per owner’s deal

A large residential property in Vista known for attracting crime will be sold as part of a plea agreement by its owner, who admitted to a charge of knowingly allowing the compound to be used by people storing, distributing and using drugs.

Sean T. Sheeter, 73, pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court on Tuesday to maintaining a drug-involved premises, a violation under a 1986 federal law known as the “crack house statute” designed to rid neighborhoods of places where crack-cocaine was being made or used.

The 2-acre property sits on the far eastern reaches of the city on Poinsettia Avenue near Oleander Avenue, across the street from an elementary school. It consists of a single-family home, plus several outbuildings, shipping containers and trailers.

The investigation was led by the North County Regional Gang Task Force and included extensive federal wiretaps, undercover operations and surveillance beginning in 2017, according to prosecutors. Numerous other investigations into gang activity, drug sales and crossborder smuggling tied back to the address, authorities said.

According to the plea agreement, Sheeter admitted to intentionally renting and making the property available to certain residents and guests to use, store and distribute drugs, primarily heroin and methamphetamine.

Sheeter, who inherited the property and also lived there, is a drug user himself and told investigators that he allowed use of the compound in exchange for drugs, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Under the negotiated plea, the property will be sold, and a portion of the proceeds will be forfeited to the federal government.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to jointly recommend Sheeter be sentenced to five years of probation, although the sanction will ultimately be up to a judge to decide. A hearing has been set for April.

“The multitude of criminal activity stemming from this residence not only impacted the area immediately surrounding it, but local schools and the neighboring cities of Vista and San Marcos,” Sheriff Bill Gore said in a statement. “We are confident this abatement will bring about an improved quality of life for all impacted by this decision.”